Canadian-based travelers' trips back from the United States decreased once more in April, according to Statistics Canada.
New and improved take:
It's clear as day that Canadian residents are not exactly flocking back to the good ol' U.S. of A, according to Statistics Canada's latest numbers. In April, automobile return trips from the United States took a massive hit, plummeting an alarming 35.2% compared to last year - that's saying goodbye to about 1.2 million trips, y'all!
The reason for this travel apocalypse? Well, it seems a perfect storm of economic, political, and social factors have conspired against a Canadian vacation.
First off, let's talk tariffs, shall we? The U.S. government has been acting like a bull in a china shop when it comes to imposing duties on Canadian goods, causing a heap of tension between our countries. Both Canadian consumers and businesses have felt the sting of these trade barriers and are preparing to retaliate by keeping their wallets closed and their luggage grounded.
But it's not just about the trade wars. Our presidential pal, Donald Trump, has been stirring up controversy by calling for Canada to become the 51st state and making other provocative statements, which has sent a ripple of unease across the Great White North. Many Canadians have responded by giving the United States a cold shoulder, swearing off traveling to the land of the free and the home of the brave in favor of sunny Mexico, exotic Caribbean destinations, or the charming old towns of Europe.
Canadians' travel boycott and pivot towards alternative destinations have manifested in a spike in overseas return trips, with a 9.9% year-over-year increase in April compared to last year. Air travel is not completely unaffected, either, as Canadian-residents returning by air from the United States dropped 19.9% from a year ago.
In the grand scheme of things, overall international arrivals, including both residents and non-residents, by air and automobile dropped a significant 15.2% to 4.5 million in April compared to the same month in 2024.
As for the impact on the U.S., border cities that have historically depended on Canadian tourism are now facing dramatic declines in retail sales, increased hotel vacancies, and scrambling to offer discounts to lure Canadians back. Adding fuel to the fire, rumors of new U.S. border policies, such as mandatory photographs upon departure, are perpetuating Canadians' apprehension and deterrent to travel to the States.
Long story short, the massive drop in Canadians returning from the United States in April spells out an ongoing boycott and changed travel behavior due to strained Canada-U.S. relations, economic retaliation, political dissatisfaction, and a shift towards alternative international destinations. Before you know it, we might be saying "so long" to those iconic Canadian-American road trips we've all grown to love.
Toronto, being a popular destination for Canadians and visitors alike, has experienced a decrease in return trips from the United States due to a combination of policy-and-legislation issues, politics, and general news factors affecting Canada-U.S. relations. Foreign travel, particularly to Europe and Mexico, has seen a notable increase as Canadians reconsider their travel plans, which could have significant economic consequences for border cities in the United States that have traditionally relied on Canadian tourism.
